Let's Hang On!
{{Short description|1965 song performed by The Four Seasons}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Let's Hang On!
| cover = Let's_Hang_On_-_The_Four_Seasons.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = the Four Seasons
| album = Gold Vault of Hits
| B-side = "On Broadway Tonight" (from the album Rag Doll)
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Rock{{cite web|work=Allmusic|title=Let's Hang On song review|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/lets-hang-on-mt0030287017|first=Donald|last=A. Guarisco|accessdate=11 November 2022}}|soul|pop rock{{cite book|title=A Century of American Popular Music|first=David|last=A. Jasen|date=2013|publisher=Taylor & Francis|page=118|isbn=9781135352646|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ucVYAQAAQBAJ|accessdate=7 October 2022}}}}
| length = 3:15
| label = Philips
| writer = Bob Crewe-Sandy Linzer-Denny Randell
| producer = Bob Crewe
| prev_title = Since I Don't Have You
| prev_year = 1965
| next_title = Don't Think Twice
| next_year = 1965
}}
"Let's Hang On!" is a song composed by Bob Crewe, Sandy Linzer, and Denny Randell that was popularized by the Four Seasons in 1965.
The Four Seasons version
The Four Seasons' recording reached No. 3 in the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, the group's highest placement since "Rag Doll" hit the top spot in July 1964.{{cite book |title= The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Eighth Edition |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=238}}
This was the last Four Seasons hit to feature bass singer/bassist Nick Massi. The same month "Let's Hang On!" was released, Massi left the group and was temporarily replaced by the band's arranger Charles Calello before Joe Long came in as Massi's full-time replacement.
The popularity of "Let's Hang On!" has been attributed to the inclusion of several devices into the recording: a two-line introduction (sung by lead singer Frankie Valli), the use of two fuzz guitars (one guitarist playing low notes, another playing high notes on a fuzz bass), a chorus loaded with hooks and sung in falsetto, and backing vocals giving counterpoint with Valli's lead vocal. It re-established the group's presence in the Top Ten (of the Hot 100) as The Four Seasons were in a flurry of activity, recording albums both as The Four Seasons and as supporting musicians for Valli's rekindled "solo" career. In the UK, the song was a No. 4 hit for the group.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/four+seasons/|title=Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=15 August 2018}}
Billboard described the song as having a "hard-driving dance rhythm."{{cite news|newspaper=Billboard|accessdate=2021-03-10|date=September 18, 1965|page=18|title=Spotlight Singles|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1965/Billboard%201965-09-18.pdf}} Cash Box described it as a "hard-rockin' fast-moving rhythmic ode about a lucky fella who is mighty pleased that he's fortunate enough to have met the girl of his dreams."{{cite magazine |title=CashBox Record Reviews |date=September 25, 1965 |page=10 |access-date=2022-01-12 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1965/CB-1965-09-25.pdf |magazine=Cash Box}}
The single's B-side, "On Broadway Tonight", was the theme of a CBS-TV variety series (1964–1965) hosted by Rudy Vallee.
=Chart history=
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==Weekly charts==
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==Year-end charts==
| class="wikitable" |
| Chart (1966)
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |
|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1966.htm|title=Top 100 Hits of 1966/Top 100 Songs of 1966|website=Musicoutfitters.com|access-date=15 August 2018}}
| style="text-align:center;"|?? |
| U.S. Cash Box {{cite web|url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1966YESP.html|title=Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1966|website=Tropicalglen.com|access-date=15 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217030153/http://www.tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/1966YESP.html|archive-date=17 February 2017|url-status=dead}}
| style="text-align:center;"|41 |
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Barry Manilow cover
{{more sources|section|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Let's Hang On!
| cover = Let's_Hang_On_-_Barry_Manilow.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Barry Manilow
| album = If I Should Love Again
| B-side = No Other Love
| released = March 1982
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Soft music
| length = 3:15
| label = Arista
| writer = Bob Crewe-Sandy Linzer-Denny Randell
| producer = Barry Manilow
| prev_title = Somewhere Down the Road
| prev_year = 1981
| next_title = Oh Julie
| next_year = 1982
}}
In 1981, the song was revived by Barry Manilow who hit No. 6 on the U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and No. 32 on the Hot 100.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/barry-manilow-mn0000018977/awards|title=Barry Manilow - Awards - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=15 August 2018}} The single climbed to No. 12 in the United Kingdom{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/barry+manilow/|title=Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=15 August 2018}} and was certified silver, while peaking at No. 4 in Australia, No. 16 in Germany and No. 8 in Ireland.
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{{col-2}}
=Chart history=
==Weekly charts==
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Chart (1982)
!Peak |
|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)
| style="text-align:center;"|4 |
| Germany
| style="text-align:center;"|16 |
| {{singlechart|Ireland2|8|song=Let's Hang On|accessdate=March 1, 2018}} |
| UK (OCC)
| style="text-align:center;"|12 |
| US Billboard Hot 100
| style="text-align:center;"|32 |
| US Billboard Adult Contemporary
| style="text-align:center;"|6 |
| US Cash Box Top 100
|align="center"|35 |
==Year-end charts==
| class="wikitable" |
| Chart (1982)
!Rank |
|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite web|title= National Top 100 Singles for 1982 |publisher= Kent Music Report |via= Imgur |issue= 445 |date= 3 January 1983 |access-date= 22 January 2023 |url= https://i.imgur.com/iP7HHqt.jpg}}
| style="text-align:center;"|27 |
| US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual){{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |date=1999 |title=Pop Annual |location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |publisher=Record Research Inc. |isbn=0-89820-142-X}}
| style="text-align:center;"|186 |
{{col-2}}
=Certifications=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Australia|title=Let's Hang On|artist=Barry Manilow|award=Gold|relyear=1982|certyear=1982|certref={{cite web|title= Platinum and Gold Singles 1982 |publisher= Kent Music Report |issue= 453 |via= Imgur |date= 28 February 1983 |access-date= 10 November 2021 |url= https://i.imgur.com/totLqGG.jpg}}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|award=Silver|title=Let's Hang On|artist=Barry Manilow|type=single|relyear=1981|certyear=1981|access-date=19 January 2021|id=3815-2714-1|refname=BPI}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
{{col-end}}
Other cover versions
In 1969, Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon covered the song and took it to No. 36 in the UK singles chart. Australian soft rock group, Dove, provided their rendition in 1975.{{cite book | last1 = McFarlane | first1 = Ian | authorlink1 = Ian McFarlane | title = Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop | chapter = Encyclopedia entry for 'Dove' | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040803181404/http://www.whammo.com.au:80/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=291 | chapter-url = http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=291 | year = 1999 | publisher = Allen & Unwin | location = St Leonards, NSW | archive-date = 3 August 2004 | isbn = 1-86508-072-1 }}
In 1980, the song was covered by British doo-wop band Darts who took it to No.11 in the UK singles chart. This was the band's last UK top 40 single.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/darts/|title=Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=15 August 2018}}
In March 1990, British band Shooting Party covered the song. It peaked at 66.url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/23073/shooting-party/
In 1995, The Manhattan Transfer covered the song on their album Tonin', featuring lead guest vocals by the original singer Frankie Valli. The album reached No. 123 on the Billboard 200.{{cn|date=June 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{The Four Seasons}}
{{Barry Manilow singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:The Four Seasons (band) songs
Category:Cashbox number-one singles
Category:Songs written by Bob Crewe
Category:Songs written by Sandy Linzer
Category:Song recordings produced by Bob Crewe
Category:The Manhattan Transfer songs
Category:Philips Records singles
Category:Arista Records singles